PS 3539 
.R95 L4 

1894 




































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Where the serried waves like chargers madly leaping 

to the fray. 



THE LEGEND 



OF 



THE WHITE CANOE 



WILLIAM TRUMBULL 



WITH PHOTOGRAVURES FROM DESIGNS BY 

F. V. Du MOND 



G. p. PUTNAM'S SONS 

NEW YORK LONDON 

27 WEST TWENTY-THIRD STREET 24 BEDFORD STREET, STRAND 

®^e Jutickcrbodur ^rcss 
1894 



\-. 



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//, 






COPYRIGHT, 189:; 
BV 

G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS 



Electrotyped, Printed, and Bound by 

Ube Iknickcrbocfscr iprcss, IRcw 12och 

G. P. Putnam's Sons 



DEDICATED 

TO 

A. L. T. T. 



Lonjj before the solitudes of western New York were dis- 
turbed by the advent of the white man, it was the custom of 
the Indian tribes to assemble occasionally at Niagara, and 
offer sacrifice to the Spirit of the Falls. 

This sacrifice consisted of a white birch-bark canoe, which 
was sent over the terrible cliff, filled with ripe fruits and 
blooming flowers, and bearing the fairest girl in the tribe who 
had just attained the age of womanhood. 



CONTENTS 



PAGE 

Proem ........ i 

Wenonah ....... 5 

The Council . . . . . • ^3 

KwAsiND ....... 29 

The Sacrifice . . . . . . -39 

Epilogue . . . . , . -53 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



WHERE THE SERRIED WAVES LIKE CHARGERS MADLY LEAPING TO THE 

FRAY, 
FLING ALOFT THEIR SNOWY CRESTS AND TOSS THEIR MANES OF FLYING 

SPRAY. ... Frontispiece \/ 

* * * AS OFTEN AS THEY LISTENED, ON THE VOICES OF THE 
FLOOD DEEP WERE BORNE THE SPIRIT's MUTTERINGS, CALLING FIERCE 

FOR HUMAN BLOOD. ... 2 

AND THE MUSIC OF HER LAUGHTER, WHEN AMID THE JOYOUS THRONG, 
SHE, HAILED QUEEN BY ALL THE MAIDENS, LED WITH MERRIEST QUIP 

AND SONG. ... 6 

* * * GRAVE ATTENTION HOLDS THE BAND, 

FOR THE MED'CINE-MAN IS SPEAKING OF THE WANT THROUGHOUT THE 

LAND. ... 12 

* * * TO YOUR DREAMING MEDA, WHILE IN TROUBLED SLEEP HE 

LAY, 
CAME THE SPIRIT OF THE WATERS, WREATHED IN BILLOWY CLOUDS 

OF SPRAY. ... I 8 

* * * IN TONES OF MEASURED CALMNESS, SELF-REPRESSED, AND 

STERNLY BRIEF, 
HE MADE KNOWN HIS TIDINGS BITTER * * * ... 28 

* * * ONE MORN, THE TREACHEROUS MEDA, SLAIN BY HOSTILE 

UNKNOWN HAND, 
SLOW WAS BORNE INTO THE VILLAGE BY THE YOUNG BRAVES OF THE 

BAND, ... 36 



viii IFllustraticns 

* * * DARTING, BOUNDING o'ER THE TIDE, 

SHOOTING STRAIGHT TO MEET ITS FELLOW, LO ! A SECOND SKIFF THEY 
SPIED. 

* * * IN HIS TENDER, YEARNING EYES, 

CLEAR SHE READS THE PREGNANT MEANING OF THAT LOVE-WROUGHT 
SACRIFICE. 



48 



50 



SWIFT BY FRANTIC STROKE IMPELLED, IT INTERCEPTS IT NEAR THE 

BRINK, 
WHERE IN STRONG LOVE CLASPED TOGETHER, FATHER, DAUGHTER, 

FADING SINK. ... 54 




I. 



PROEM. 



M 



ID the rush of mighty waters, in the thundering 
cataract's roar, 
Where Niagara's streaming rapids down in headlong 

torrent pour ; 
Where the serried waves Hke chargers madly leaping 

to the fray, 
Fling aloft their snowy crests and toss their manes of 

flying spray, 
Rearing, plunging, onward urging — Nature's glorious 

cavalry ! 
Where th' eternal sweep of waters like the unending 

surge of time. 
Pulsing, throbs in rhythmic measure to a wondrous 

strain sublime : 
Dwells, so ancient legends say, the mighty Spirit of 

the Falls, 
Who from out the tumult, hoarsely, for unbounded 

homage calls. 



'^ "'' As often as they listened, on the voices of the 
flood. 
Deep were borne the Spirit's mtLtterings, calling fierce 
for htinian blood. 



Here the children of the forest, spellbound by that 

deafenino^ roar, 
Stopped to gaze with listening wonder, in the simpler 

days of yore ; 
Awe-struck, gazed in silent worship, well beseeming 

Nature's child, 
As in chase they roamed the plain, or tracked in war 

the pathless wild : 
And as often as they listened, on the voices of the 

flood 
Deep were borne the Spirit's mutterings, calling fierce 

for human blood ; 
Ay, and sacrifice more cruel in that cry. they under- 
stood : 
Gift of Nature's choicest treasure, peerless budding 

womanhood ! 




II. 



WENONAH. 



F 



'AIREST of the laughing daughters by blue Sene- 
ca's rippling tide, 
Was the Indian maid, Wenonah, sturdy Kwasind's joy 

and pride : 
Eyes of laughter, like the sunshine dancing in her 

native lake, 
O'er whose depths, anon, fleet shadows chasing cast 

their trailingf wake ; 
Lips of tempting ruddy hue like mountain berries 

pfleaminor fair ; 
Raven locks, whose glossy lustre shone like dark-stem- 
med maidenhair; 
Whilst rich mantling color tinged an olive cheek, whose 

crimson flush 
Vied with flaming- woodland leaves when touched with 

Autumn's scarlet blush. 



She, hailed ipieen by all the maidens, led ivith merriest 
quip and song. 



And the music of her laughter, when amid the joyous 

throng, 
She, hailed Queen by all the maidens, led with merriest 

quip and song, 
Fell in sweetest rippling cadence, sounding thro' the 

leafy way 
Like the purl of hidden brooklet murmuring soft in 

distant play ; 
As in freest fancy roving, far removed from cares or 

strife. 
With fresh eager zest exulting in youth's bounding 

sense of life. 
Bright she moved, a winsome picture, framed by 

Nature's matchless art 
In all scenes of joy and beauty royally to bear her 

part. 



Yet to scenes of mirth not solely was her sunny 

presence lent ; 
Truer was her simple nature, to a nobler purpose bent : 
Only child of widow'd father, hers the sacred heritage, 
With the charm of winning; trirlhood, to make brio-ht 

his lonely age. 
What tho' ardently, nay fiercely, for her smiles the 

young braves strove 
In all feats of savage daring — none as yet might claim 

her love ; 
She, with roguish, artless spirit, laughing in her gay 

caprice, 
Found in loving, filial duty surer joys of heart-whole 

peace. 



Just as when some sturdy giant of the forest, bending 

low, 
Bows before the axe and topphng falls with mighty 

crashing blow, 
Clinging tendrils, newly springing round the shattered 

trunk are seen 
Swift to hide its prostrate ruin 'neath a veil of living 

ereen. 
Guarding, shielding, closely nestling to their riven 

parent stock, 
Like mute sentient creatures fearful of rude gaze or 

heedless mock : 
So the maid her lonely father tended with fond, jealous 

pride, 
Steadfast, faithful to her trust, where none might woo 

her from his side. 



* * * Grave attention holds the band. 




III. 

THE COUNCIL. 



/"FATHERED is the warriors' council. Thro' the 

^-^ shadows of the night, 

Darkly gleams each dusky figure in the camp-fire's 

fitful light. 
Slowly round the silent circle moves the red-pipe's 

eleaminor bowl, 
Thro' whose clouds each wreath'd sage, peering the 

dark future to unroll, 
Draws a drowsy, sweet contentment, for the moment, 

o'er his soul. 
Now, the broodinuf hush is broken ; o-rave attention 

holds the band. 
For the Med'cine-man is speaking of the want through- 
out the land ; 
Slow, in subtle craft, contrasting with the wealth of 

happier days 

Present dearth of fish and venison, withering blight 

upon their maize. 

13 



Well he speaks ! His halting manner but betrays the 

deeper art 
Of his cunning soul vindictive ; which full oft had 

conned this part, 
Since that day when in dim forest glade Wenonah 

spurned his quest, 
And with flaming scorn repelled the love his suppliant 

words confessed. 
Little recked the fearless maiden in that lonely, fateful 

hour, 
Dark appeal, mute, threatening gesture, hints of baleful 

fetich power ; 
For while untaught reason wavered, blindly groping 

toward the light, 
Woman's faultless intuition read his lying heart aright ! 



15 



"Senecas! Twice the rolling Autumn, with deep-laden 

malice fraught, 
Years of blight and wasting sickness to your golden 

maize hath brought. 
Yet again the dread plague threatens ! Speak, deluded, 

hapless race, 
Will ye, reckless, longer trust th' uncertain product 

of the chase ? 
Hunted, driven, the startled red deer, fleeing, vanish 

from your sight ! 
Hark, the cry of fenland wild-geese, parting on their 

southward fliofht ! 
E'en your lake trout, lurking wary, yield but scanty 

livelihood — 
Will ye see your children starving ? Answer, Senecas ! 

Is it eood ? 



17 



Came the Spirit of the Wate^^s, wreathed -in billgwy 
clouds of spray. 



"Listen! To your dreaming- Meda, while in troubled 

sleep he lay, 
Came the Spirit of the Waters, wreathed in billowy 

clouds of spray : — 
' Wherefore do My children shun Me ? Where the 

ofrateful offerine rare 
Of the maid and first-fruits choicest, which they once 

were wont to bear ? 
Has prospe7nty thus turned them from the faith of 

simpler days ? 
Let them heed, lest FAMINE seal My warning blight 

upon their maize ! ' 
So He spake, with muttered thunderings, leaving me 

as one for dead. 
Need I counsel? Heed the warning! Yet delay not! 

— I have said." 



19 



Ceased the speaker, 'mid a silence, chill, foreboding as 

the crrave. 
Save where some sage, nodding grayhead growl of half- 
conviction gave, 
As at grim want's threatening horror, fear, by ghastly 

memories fed, 
Woke to flame the smouldering embers of a cruel faith 

nigh dead ; 
Or perchance, some young brave, chafing sore in hot, 

rebellious mood. 
With the first warm flush of manhood 'gainst a bygone 

creed of blood. 
Carried past his wiser fellows, borne by love's impetuous 

stream, 
Muttered curse both deep and savage on the Meda's 

bodino- dream ! 



But all eyes were fixed on Kwasind, Strong Man, 

warrior proved and true, 
Whose brave heart, where others faltered, never fear 

nor weakness knew ; 
Hero of a thousand conflicts, scarred in visage, proud 

of mien, 
Foremost ever in rude battle, chase, or stirring council- 
scene : 
And their eyes were fixed upon him with a deep, 

expectant gaze, 
Watchinor for some answering sitrnal which their 

sinking hearts might raise ; 
Hope and terror strangely blended in that wistful, 

furtive stare. 
Not unmixed with curious pity for a father's mute 

despair ! 



23 



Long they sat, in silence waiting. Neither word, nor 

sign, nor glance 
From the Sachem came in answer to their wondering 

look askance. 
— Ah ! the nameless, unseen terror of that shadowy 

Spirit-land, 
With its spectral shapes and phantoms, — who its power 

can understand ? 
Now, in sudden wrath he starts at thought of pity from 

the rest, 
Crushes down the wellinof tumult surafingf thro* his 

anguished breast. 
Cloaks 'neath stoic, outward calm the (jrief he strusfSfles 

to control — 
Lest perchance he may betray the finer feelings of his 

soul ! 



25 



There he sits, all wrapped in silence, strangely mute, 

impassive grown, 
Drawn each stern and rigid feature like carved lines of 

chiselled stone ; 
Iron will and haughty spirit bravely answering to 

repress 
Quivering lip and trembling eyelid, — signals of his 

deep distress. 
See ! he meets their searchino- o-lance with head erect 

and flashinor mien ; 
Slowly gazes round the assembly with unflinching air 

serene : 
Victor in th' unnatural conflict ; love and nature, both 

defied ; 
Slave to coward superstition ; thrall of idle savage 

pride ! 



He made knozvn his tidings hitter 



H« * * 




IV. 



KWASIND. 



N 



OR when, once the conclave over, striding" back 
in anger wild 
To the hut, where all unconscious of her fate, his 

darling child 
Rose to oreet his late home-comino-, — did his flood of 

grief long-pent. 
In a burst of manlier feeling find, e'en then, its fitting 

vent : 
But in tones of measured calmness, self-repressed, and 

sternly brief, 
He made known his tidings bitter to her gaze of 

wondering grief ; 
Nay, to that grim ordeal, harshly, bade her nerve her 

trembling frame, 
For the welfare of her people, for the honor of his 

name ! 



29 



Yet, in lonely midnight vigil, when beneath the unwonted 
strain, 

V 

Baffled nature rose rebellious, throbbing fierce in secret 

pain, 
Vowed he threat of direst vengeance, breathing forth 

an ominous hiss 
'Gainst the doting, idle dreamer: — "Curse him, he 

shall die for this ! " 
Or as tenderer feelings, rushing with tumultuous ebb 

and roll, 
Stirred to ruth the deep recesses of his inmost troubled 

soul. 
Pity for her youth and beauty, doomed thus soon to 

fade and die, 
Found expression mute yet touching, in a long-drawn 

secret sigh. 



31 



Or he dwelt on her obedience, on her silent fortitude, 
Bowine to his will submissive, 'neath a blow so harsh 

and rude : 
And it called to mind her mother, gentle slave of 

days long fled, 
Slain, alas ! in hostile foray ere her noon of life had 

sped. 
How miofht she have met this trial ? — What her thouofht 

of him, who must 
In the pride of false endurance, thus betray a father's 

trust ? 
Till proud spirit, bowed in anguish, brooding thro' the 

silent night, 
Staggered 'neath the strong temptation of a swift, 

inelorious flio-ht. 



33 



Then, a sterner mood returning-, pride resumed its 
wonted sway ; 

Bade him heed the tribe's opinion ; pictured what his 
braves might say : 

While he strove, with specious reasoning, which he well 
knew for a lie. 

To assuage the qualms of conscience — outraged nature's 
stifled cry ! 

Her obedience ? — but th' expression of a flattered vanity 

At the tribute of the council's silent unanimity ! 

Or if here, too, justice triumphed, muttered with con- 
temptuous thought : 

" After all, she 's but a woman !" — and in this a respite 
sought. 



35 



Slozu was borne into the village by tJie young braves 

of the band. 



So the days dragged slowly onward, days of strife and 

varying mood, 
As he watched her steadfast bearing from his gloomy 

solitude : 
And one morn, the treacherous Meda, slain by hostile, 

unknown hand, 
Slow was borne into the village by the young braves of 

the band. 
None mistrusted sullen Kwasind, when the funeral 

throng drew nigh. 
Or, at least, none cared to question with that scowling 

warrior by. 
But th' event was soon forgotten 'mid the press of other 

calls. 
And the stir of preparation for their long march to the 

Falls. 



37 




V. 



THE SACRIFICE. 



c 



OME, at length, the fatal evening — for such pur- 
pose, all too soon ! 
— On a scene of matchless glory slow uprose the harvest 

moon : 
Crested wave and shimmering islet, bathed in flood of 

golden light, 
Caught and threw its tremulous radiance far adown the 

wind-kissed night ; 
Soft the mellow moonbeams glinting thro' the leaves 

on isle and shore. 
Spread beneath, their quivering fretwork, interlaced with 

shadows o'er ; 
Now, the full orb's splendor shining, woke to brilliant 

glistening play 
Myriad hues of emerald richness, showers of sparkling 

diamond spray. 



39 



On the cliffs beyond the cataract, ranged Hke sentinels 

on high, 
Giant trees stood darkly shadowed, spectre-like against 

the sky ; 
Far beneath, the seething river, wrapped in deepest 

midnight gloom, 
Flowed with cruel, swirling torrent thro' the gorge — a 

fitting tomb ! 
While, like ponderous portals clanging 'twixt these 

scenes of death and life. 
Boomed the Falls, their bellowing echoes telling of 

a ceaseless strife ; 
Riven, torn in wildest fury, lashed to foam and clouds 

of spray. 
Like some clamorous monster raging for its long- 
expected prey. 



41 



From the shore, in jarring discord with the spirit of the 

hour, 
Shouts of revelry invaded its sublime, mysterious 

power : 
Man, the slave of passions rude, in superstition's yoke 

enthralled, 
Marred the face divine of Nature, by her grandeur 

unappalled. 
— There they danced in wild carousal, thro' that 

glorious moonlit night, 
Love and friendship all forgotten, in their orgies' fierce 

delight ; 
Thinking thus, poor simple children, best the dread 

wrath to assuage 
Of that Spirit dark, whose roaring told of boundless, 

sullen rage. 



43 



Hark ! a distant shout. Swift following, comes a 

momentary hush. 
Then, their ill-timed revels quitting, to the river's bank 

they rush : 
Up the stream all eyes are straining, toward yon faintest 

speck of white. 
Where the frail birch onward dancing, flashes in the 

moon's pale light ; 
Large, now larger, grows the object ; till at length the 

kneelinof form 
Of a maid is seen, her tresses blowing wildly in the 

storm ; 
Clasped her hands, her lips half-parted, staring down 

the angry stream 
As if spellbound by the horror of some hideous night- 
mare dream ! 



45 



At that sight, their spell is broken. Cheer rever- 
berates on cheer, 

Till the answering banks re-echo like a scoffing, mocking 
jeer. 

Louder still their cries redouble, as the skiff with 
frightful lunge 

Leaps in where the steadier current gathers for its final 
plunge. 

Passed the head of low-crowned Iris ! Luna eleams ! — 
But what is this ? 

Why this stillness, broken only by the thunder of th' 
abyss ? 

Why this sudden pause from shouting, and that swift- 
averted gaze 

To yon point where, circling, eddying past the shore, 
the current plays ? 



47 




Shooting straight to meet his fellow, lo ! a second skiff 

they spied. 



Leaping- from the mainland outward, darting, bounding 

o'er the tide, 
Shooting straight to meet its fellow, — lo ! a second 

skiff they spied. 
Mark the dripping blade flash brightly, scattering drops 

of silver light, 
As the shallop plunges, lurches, forward urged by 

desperate might ! 
See ! it nears ; they strike ! — Defiant, stands a swaying, 

stalwart form ; 
Poises high the useless paddle; hurls it at the ravening 

storm ! 
While an arm protecting, shielding, round the startled 

maid is flung : — 
"'T is her father ! Kwasind ! Kv/asind !" bursts in frenzy 

from the throno-. 



49 



"^ " '' /;/ /its tender, yearning eyes, 
Clear she reads the pregnant meaning of that love- 
wrought sacrifice. 



f 




Ay ; 't was Kwasind ! Love, triumphant over every 

fear and doubt, 
Love had won the final victory, putting stubborn pride 

to rout. 
By that one brief glance at meeting, in his tender 

yearning eyes. 
Clear she reads the pregnant meaning of that love- 
wrought sacrifice : — 
Not forgotten, not forsaken, in that lonely, bitter hour ! 
Then, tho' certain death await her, answering to his 

love's strong power 
Leaps the light of new-born gladness in her eyes ! — 

With quickened breath, 
Clasped as one, they pass the portal to the shadowy 

realm of death. 



51 




VI. 



EPILOGUE. 



A 



ND in after years, at nightfall — still the Indian 
legends say — 
When each swift revolving Autumn brings again that 

fatal day, 
From Niagara's brow, a shallop thro' the dusk is seen 

to glide, 
Stemming with unwavering course the mighty flood's 

on-rushing tide ; 
Till, a jutting headland reached, it swerves, and nears 

the northern strand, 
Where a slight form, dimly shadowed, on the bank is 

said to stand : 
There, its strange freight once embarked, it veers, and 

downward thro' the nigrht 
Bears the spectral, kneeling figure of a maiden robed 

in white. 



53 



Where rn strong love clasped together, father, daughter, 
fading sink. 



And as often as the phantom nears the head of 

Luna's shores, 
From the bank, another shallop leaps to meet Its gliding 

course ; 
Swift by frantic stroke impelled, it intercepts it near the 

brink, 
Where in strong love clasped together, father, daughter, 

fading sink : 
And as surely as they vanish, louder roars the Spirit 

gray ; 
Higher yet, like incense rising, waft the rolling clouds 

of spray ; 
Whilst the moon, her pale face veiling high in Autumn's 

cloud-flecked skies, 
Mourns the unending expiation of that cruel sacrifice. 



55 










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